Tag Archives: Dead

Dodgers legend Don Newcombe — one of the most important black athletes in MLB history — died Tuesday morning after battling an undisclosed “lengthy illness,” the Dodgers confirmed. He was 92.

Newcombe started off as a star pitcher in the Negro Leagues — before making his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949.

Once in the Big Leagues, Don was a STUD — racking up 17 wins while leading MLB in shutouts. He also pitched 32 consecutive scoreless innings. He also won Rookie of the Year.

Along with Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Larry Doby, Newcombe was among the first 4 black players to make the All-Star game. He was named an All Star 3 more times during his career.

“Don Newcombe’s presence and life established him as a role model for major leaguers across the country,” Dodgers president Stan Kasten said in a statement.

“He was a constant presence at Dodger Stadium and players always gravitated to him for his endless advice and leadership. The Dodgers mean everything to him and we are all fortunate he was part of our lives.”

The Dodgers consider him one of the greatest pitchers in team history — and for good reason.

He won the National League MVP and Cy Young in 1956 … the same year he led the league in wins. He also led MLB in strikeouts in 1951.

Newcombe took a hiatus from pro baseball in 1952 and 1953 to serve in the Korean War.

In 2013, he talked about his service to USA Today saying, “I served my country. I was going to fight for my country and my flag if I was asked. I didn’t dodge bullets, but I’m proud of my contribution.”

Back in 2010, Barack Obama credited Newcombe — along with Jackie Robinson — with helping to change America for the better.

“I would not be here if it were not for Jackie and it were not for Don Newcombe,” Obama said.

His father, Matt, announced the sad news on Facebook … saying Sean passed away Sunday in a hospital due to complications from an infection. He added, “Sunday he was having problems with his breathing, they were able to resuscitate him and a short time later his heart stopped.”

Sean, who reached a weight as high as 900 pounds, was on the show for only one episode in 2016. He became bedridden during his senior year of high school — when he was already at least 400 lbs — after suffering a debilitating leg injury.

The same year he appeared on the reality show, he told People he was planning on moving to Houston to see if he could qualify for weight loss surgery. He reportedly lived on his own in Texas prior to his death, but it’s unclear if he ever went under the knife.

The fashion world is mourning after legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld‘s death Tuesday in Paris.

Lagerfeld died in a Parisian hospital … according to Chanel, where he served as creative director. He was reportedly admitted on Monday night. No cause of death has been released, but there’d been a buzz about his health since he missed 2 Chanel shows last month.

He’d appeared on the runway at the end of every Chanel event since joining the fashion house in 1983. At the close of one of the January shows in Paris, the announcer wished Karl a quick recovery.

German-born Lagerfeld, who previously worked for Fendi, was the toast of the fashion world for decades … commonly seen rocking his trademark shades at Chanel shows.

The Navy sailor who passionately kissed a woman to celebrate the end of World War II — captured by a photographer in what’s easily one of the most iconic images in American history — has died.

The sailor, George Mendonsa, died Sunday at age 95 after falling and suffering a seizure at an assisted living facility in Middletown, Rhode Island. George’s daughter told the Providence Journal her father was living at the facility with his wife of more than 70 years.

The woman George kissed was Greta Zimmer Friedman … a dental assistant. The pic, snapped by Alfred Eisenstaedt, was taken in Times Square on August 14, 1945, after Japan surrendered to the U.S.

As for what compelled George to kiss a perfect stranger … George told CBS News, “The excitement of the war bein’ over, plus I had a few drinks. So when I saw the nurse I grabbed her and kissed her.”

Greta — who died in 2016 at the age of 92 — said, “I did not see him approaching, and before I know it I was in this vice grip.” George said the kiss didn’t last long.

The photog said he snapped 4 pics in 10 seconds … symbolizing the end of WWII.

It’s a miracle Demaryius Thomas﻿wasn’t killed in his car crash Saturday morning — with a key witness telling TMZ Sports he watched DT’s car flip 3 times … and was SHOCKED when he saw the NFL star get out of the vehicle mostly unharmed.

We spoke with Michael Tafoya who happened to be driving in the Denver area around 12:20 AM when he saw the vehicle lose control, hit a curb and launch 20 feet into the air. The car then rolled 3 times before finally landing in a grassy median.

Tafoya — who’s a registered nurse — says he ran over to the crash scene to help out and tried to get the door open to help the passengers, but it was stuck.

Cops arrived to the scene a short time later and took over — managing to free Thomas and both of his passengers. Tafoya says officials used the Jaws of Life to help free Thomas from the car.

The ex-Broncos star and the 2 passengers are expected to be fine, according to officials — but Tafoya tells us Thomas had a “hellacious knot” on his head.

Michael tells us the whole thing looked like a scene out of an action movie … adding, “I thought those people were dead.”

Thomas played for the Broncos for nine seasons before being traded mid-way through this past year to the Texans. He’s now a free agent after Houston released him last week.

Singer and actress Charo‘s husband of more than 40 years is dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound … TMZ has learned.

Kjell Rasten shot himself Monday afternoon around 2 PM in the Beverly Hills home where he and ’70s icon Charo lived … according to law enforcement sources. We’re told Charo was home at the time and someone in the house called 911.

Police and paramedics responded, and Rasten was transported to a hospital, but they were unable to save him. We’re told he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Rasten was a TV producer in the ’70s and ’80s. He and Charo married in 1978, and had one child together … actor and producer Shel Rasten.

Charo and Kjell, along with their son, appeared on a 2015 episode of the ABC show, “Celebrity Wife Swap.” They swapped with Charo’s old “Love Boat” co-star, Jill Whelan.

The oldest living man died peacefully Sunday morning in his home … at 113 years old.

Masazo Nonaka was born in 1905. To put this in context, it’s when Albert Einstein unveiled to the world his theory of relativity.

Speaking of relativity … Nonaka was relatively independent. He used a wheelchair to get around and enjoyed reading newspapers and venturing out to a nearby spring bath once a week. He also loved eating sweets at the end of a meal.

His granddaughter said, “We feel shocked at the loss of this big figure. He was, as usual yesterday and passed away without causing our family any fuss at all.”

Nonaka doesn’t hold the Guinness World Record of all time … the oldest living man was also from Japan and died in 2013 at 116 years old.

Former U.S. figure skating champion John Coughlin has killed himself in the midst of an internal investigation within his sport.

Coughlin — a two-time U.S. Pairs champion — took his own life Friday in Kansas City, according to his sister, Angela Laune, who revealed the news on Facebook. Police have reportedly confirmed his death as well.

The Olympic skater had recently been temporarily barred from participating in any skating events in any capacity due to an investigation launched by SafeSport last month. SafeSport is an independent body that investigates allegations of misconduct, and has “exclusive jurisdiction over allegations of sexual misconduct but also looks into other forms of abuse,” per USA Today.

The investigation quickly escalated, as he was suspended by U.S. Figure Skating following a recommendation from SafeSport. The details of what he’d been accused of remain unclear for now.

A Boogie wit da Hoodie‘s on a victory lap — celebrating his #1 album by buying houses and trucks for his family and pounds of jewelry for himself — and he says any artist who’s relying on selling albums anymore is just plain stupid.

The rapper’s riding high right now atop the Billboard charts — despite selling just 823 physical records — and when we got him leaving Rockefeller Center in NYC Wednesday night … he makes it pretty clear the low sales are now totally irrelevant.

A Boogie tells us streaming’s the new king of the music biz, and with his new album, “Hoodie SZN,” getting 83 MILLION streams last week … he’s got the crown.

There’s more, though … the hip-hop artist — whose real name is Artist, btw — says he’s got new music coming out with Tekashi 6ix9ine soon, along with a music vid for his track “Swervin'” featuring 69.